Berio, Luciano

Italian composer. His work, usually involving electronic sound, combines serial techniques with commedia dell'arte and antiphonal practices, as in Alleluiah II (1958) for five instrumental groups. His large output includes 11 Sequenzas/Sequences (1958–85) for various solo instruments or voice, Sinfonia (1968) for voices and orchestra, Formazioni/Formations (1987) for orchestra, and the opera Un re in ascolto/A King Listens (1984).

Although Berio's compositional techniques are severe, the effect is softened by wit and theatricality. He was one of the most active composers of electronic music and worked with Boulez at the Institut de Recherche et de Co-ordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM). He also used graphic notation, and many of his works leave the performer with a wide range of choices. He was particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of language as developed in musical performance.